
‘AjourneyofaThousandmilesbeginswithasinglestep.’Getoriginalcopy0996564395/0881399843Page36
geographicalpositionofanarea,easycommunicationandthewishesofpeople.In
Malawi,wardboundariesdonotcrosslocalauthorityboundaries.
2.Registration–identificationofaneligiblevoter.Apersonisonlyallowedtoregisteronce
intheareahe/sheresidesorwasbornorisemployedorcarriesonhisbusiness.During
the registration,a person is issued a voter’s registration certificate.A period of
registrationofvotersisdeterminedbytheelectoralcommissionandinMalawi,theperiod
isbetween14–21daysandthoseallowedtoregistershouldbe18yearsandabove.The
personshouldattaintheageof18yearsonorbeforethepollingday.
3.Qualifying foroffice and nomination ofcandidates – these are requirements for
candidatesandincludeage,residence,citizenshipandtermlimits.
InMalawi,apersonqualifiesasacandidateforthepositionofcouncillor,Memberof
Parliamentandpresidentif:
a.HeisaresidentofMalawianddoesnothaveaforeignorigin.
b.Hehasreachedtheageof21years.
c.HeisabletospeakandreadEnglishandisaregisteredvoter.
d.Hehasneverbeenconvictedbyacompetentcourtwithinthelastsevenyears.
e.HedoesnotbelongtotheDefenceForcesofMalawi,theMalawiPoliceServiceor
intheMalawiPrisonService.
Candidatesarenominatedatpartyconventions,individualconstituenciesorbynational
partyleadersorcanstandasindependentcandidates.
In Malawi,theelectoralcommission appoints a returning officerwho receivesthe
nominationsofcandidates.NominationsinMalawiarerequiredtobemadebyatleastten
registeredvotersintheconstituencyorwardinwhichapersonwouldliketobea
candidateandeachvotershouldsignonthenominationpaper.
4.Campaigning–itisdonetopublicizetheelectioninordertohaveaheavyturnout.Itis
alsodonetoappealtotheelectoratetovoteforacandidate.Campaignsaredoneusing
ralliesorsocialgatherings,themediaanddoortodoorcampaigns.Othersuseopinion
polls(privatepollstoknowhowpopulartheyare).Campaignisprohibitedatmilitaryunits,
policestations,publicinstitutionsandeducationalinstitutionsduringnormalworking
5.Settingupofpollingstations–establishingpollingstationsthroughouttheareawhere
theelectionsaretobeheld.Votingbooths(aplaceformakingthechoiceforacandidate
byavoter)areestablishedateverypollingstation.Politicalpartiesareallowedtomonitor
thevotingprocessandaresupposedtoinspecttheballotboxesandpollingstations
beforethebeginningofthecastingofvotes.
6.Thevoteandvotingprocess–votersuseballotpaperstovoteandtheyexercisetheright
tovoteatapollingstationlocatedattheregistrationcentrewheretheyregistered.Ifthis
isnotpossible,alternativearrangementshavetobemade.Pollingdaybeginsat6O’clock
inthemorningandclosesat6O’clockintheeveninginMalawi.
7.Tabulating,reportingandcertifyingresults–inmanycountries,votesarecountedby
electionofficialsatvariouspollingstationsofteninthepresenceofauthorizedparty
workers.Electionresultsandwinnersareoftencertifiedbypublicofficials.Wherethereis
nomajoritywinner,anotherelectionmustbeheldwithinaspecifiedperiod.TheElectoral
CommissionofMalawiisthebodythatcertifiesresults.